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Why Women Get Headaches 4 Times as Often as Men (and 4 Things You Can Do About It!)

I always feel like I have more headaches—well, or at least lament about having more headaches—than my husband. And now it looks like there's good reason as to why!

According to sleep doctor Michael Gelb, D.D.S., M.S., women get headaches about four times more than men. Why? Well, let's just blame our hormones (blergh), which may cause "sensitization and inflammation," he says.

Gelb—who offers Skype consultations for people across the country for anyone needing help with headache or sleep issues—says that women experience tension headaches more than migraines by a ratio of 9 to 1—which, if you've ever experienced either, is way too much. Headaches hurt. A lot.

Gelb says that "headaches originate from the trigeminal nerve, which disseminates the pain to the eyes, cheeks, jaw, and temple. Common traits include clenching teeth, neck and shoulder tension, and fragmented sleep, leading to exhaustion during the day." Basically, you end up carrying tension in your neck and shoulders.

So, how can we deal with these hurt-y headaches in the meantime? So glad you asked...

Aerobic exercise: Regular exercise—walking, running, swimming—can help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and migraines. It's hard to do when you're in the midst of a headache, of course—but staying the course and getting it done on those days you don't have it may well reduce the possibility you'll soon be dealing with another one.

Cold and heat: Applying heat to the back of your neck can help get rid the tightness that's camped out there. But if you have a throbbing headache—you know the kind—put some ice into a washcloth and press it gently against your temples.